That's not how most politicians in Washington begin a news conference. But it's how Ohio Gov. John Kasich decided to kick things off Tuesday when he faced a room packed with national political reporters gathered to get an update on his presidential ambitions.

The questions probably were not what Kasich expected:

•What's his response to Donald Trump's description of Mexican immigrants as criminals?

•What does it say about the Republican Party that Trump is ahead of Kasich in the polls?

•How worried is he that Trump will be allowed to participate in the first Republican presidential debate — and he won't?

If Kasich was frustrated by the media's momentary obsession with the billionaire real estate mogul, he didn't show it.

The Ohio governor said he didn't agree with Trump's comments about Mexican immigrants, arguing that he has worked to bring people "out of the shadows" in the Buckeye State. He said he'd leave it to reporters to judge the political implications of Trump's bump in the polls. And he refused to make any predictions about whether he would make the debate cutoff.

Fox News Channel, which is hosting the first GOP debate in Cleveland next month, plans to average the most recent polls in the GOP field and allow the top 10 performers to participate.

"I'm not going to put carts before horses here," Kasich said when asked whether he was worried about not making the cut. "We have a month to go. We'll see what happens."

Kasich is planning to officially announce his candidacy on July 21 in Columbus. The two-term GOP governor was here Tuesday to woo Republican members of Congress and other key GOP players in D.C.

He hosted a meet-and-greet with House Republicans and a meeting with his D.C. "steering committee" — a group of about 20 lobbyists and lawmakers who are helping him recruit big-name donors and land important endorsements, among other things.

Reporters did ask about more than Trump at Tuesday's news conference — with other questions about fundraising, his brash personality, and recent comparisons of him and Jon Huntsman, the former Utah governor and failed 2012 GOP contender.

"I'm John Kasich, I'm not anybody else," he said finally. "We'll see, if I decide to go forward, how people feel about that."

Several lawmakers who attended a meet-and-greet with Kasich said he made a good impression and piqued their interest in his campaign.

"He's a solid man, and he can do the job," said Rep. Austin Scott, R-Georgia.

But Scott said he wasn't ready to endorse Kasich, adding that he was equally impressed with several other candidates in the crowded Republican field.

Rep. Steve Stivers, R-Columbus, a Kasich supporter, said it's important for Kasich to win over congressional Republicans like Scott.

"There were a lot of key leaders in there who can help him build support in their home states," Stivers said, estimating that about 75 GOP lawmakers attended the gathering.

"People seemed really excited," Stivers said. "I can't say he converted everyone in the room in one meeting but that's not how this works. ... This is about building momentum."